Owls Detail 'Two,' Premiere New Track

BY Gregory AdamsPublished Jan 8, 2014

Reunited Chicago post-rock quartet Owls have revealed the details behind their long-in-the-works sophomore set, which has now been given the fitting title of Two. The album drops March 25 through Polyvinyl Records.

As previously reported, the group recorded the 10-song record last September following an 18-month prep period. A press release notes that the album began to take shape following the quartet's 2010 reunion as their teenage incarnation Cap'n Jazz, but kicked into gear once bassist Sam Zurick moved back to Chicago in February 2012.

While Owls' 2001 self-titled album was reportedly put together in just five days, the lead-up to Two was met with a series of delays and then hashed out "amidst yelling, arguing, and practices that were often cut short or canceled outright."

This is apparently due to the "complex personal relationships" between the foursome, who have weaved in and out of each other's music careers via projects like Cap'n Jazz, Ghosts and Vodka, Joan of Arc and more over the last 10 years.

"The band dynamic was eerily similar to the first record," drummer Mike Kinsella said in a statement. "In some ways I think we all regressed to whatever roles we filled then, for better and for worse."

As for the music, Two is described as a more "aggressive and direct" LP than the band's debut, with drums hitting harder and vocalist Tim Kinsella's lyrics running a bit more direct than his previous obscurist musings.

Of the album's "Ancient Stars Seed," Tim Kinsella said, "The line 'We've never had nice stuff' feels good to sing because we really are still a grubby foursome with broken equipment and no money and I see these shitty young bands every day with pedal boards and no ideas."

While that track is being kept under wraps for now, you can sample the set's "I'm Surprised," made up of Victor Villarreal's fluid guitar runs, off-kilter drum beats, and lines about being something like a crooked seahorse down beneath the tracklisting.

Two:

1. Four Works Of Art...
2. I'm Surprised...
3. The Lion...
4. Why Oh Why...
5. This Must Be How...
6. Ancient Stars Seed...
7. It Collects Itself...
8. I'll Never Be...
9. Oh No, Don't...
10. A Drop Of Blood...

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